Watch



March 28, 1933. MANSFlELD 1,903,003

WATCH Filed April 28. 1950 Patented Mar. 28 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR L. MANSFIELD, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. INGRAHAM COMPANY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION WATCH Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to an improvement in watches and particularly to the dial-plate mounting-feature thereof.

The main object of this invention is to provide a watch at a low cost for manufacture, with simple, reliable and convenient means for mounting the dial-plate thereof.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear from the following, my in vention consists in a watch having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of one form which a watch embodying my invention may assume;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof 011 an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detached face view of the movement;

Fig. 5 is an edge view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a detached view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of one of the pillars of the movement.

In the watch herein chosen for the illustration of my invention, I employ a cupshaped sheet-metal case-shell 10 of substantially rectangular form and having a similarly shaped sight-opening 11 in its front face, through which the dial 12 may be viewed, as well as the hands (not shown) in the usual manner of timepieces.

The case-shell 10 above referred to consists of a vertical skirt 13, an upwardly-and-inwardly-beveled reach 14, and an upstanding collar-like portion 15 terminating in an inwardly-turned crystal-retaining flange 16.

Attached to the skirt portion 13 of the case-shell at the opposite ends thereof respectively are strap-receiving loops 17 and 18. Inserted from the open bottom of the caseshell 10 into the interior of the collar 15 and against the crystal-retaining flange 16 thereof is a bowed crystal 19.

Installed within the case-shell 10 is a movement-unit which ma be of any approved construction, but whlch for the purpose of 1930. Serial No. 447,858.

clarity herein has been stripped of its geartrain, etc., and is represented for the purposes of this application by a front movement-plate 20, a complementary rear movement-plate 21 and four (more or less) pillars 22 serving to hold the said movement-plates in spaced relationship.

The pillars 22 correspond one to the other, so that a description of one will serve'for all. Each of the said pillars is formed in its rear end with an internally-threaded axial bore 23 for the reception of a coupling-screw 24 extendingthrough the rear movementplate 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The forward end of each of the pillars 22 is reduced in diameter to form a stop-shoulder 25, a cylindrical neck-portion 26 and an upstanding dial-supporting stud 27. The

neck-portion 26 of each of the pillars 22 is passed forwardly through a perforation in the front movement-plate 20 and the upper edge of the said neck is swaged over the upper face of the said front movement-plate as at 28 (Fig. 3) to firmly lock the front movement-plate to the pillar.

The dial-plate 12 before referred to, rests upon the forward ends of the integral studs 27 of the respective pillars 22' and is held thereby in spaced relationship with respect to the front movement-plate 20 to provide a space 29 for the accommodation of the dialwork (not shown) or other features of the movement-unit.

For the purpose of organizing the dialplate 12 with the movement-unit, I employ a sheet-metal retaining-ring 30 consisting of a depending skirt 31 conforming to the interior form of the skirt 13 of the case-shell 10, an upwardly and inwardly inclined reach 32 terminating in an inwardly-turned crystal-supporting flange 33 and conforming to the sloping reach 14 of the said case-shell. Two or more integral fingers 34 formed upon the lower edge of the skirt-portion 31 of the retaining-ring 30 are turned inward, as shown in Fig. 3, beneath the front movementplate 20.

As thus constructed and arranged, my improved watch has its dial-plate 12 definitely spaced with respect to the front movementplate and is organized with the movement for being handled therewith as a unit by the retaining-ring 30, which maybe readily attached and detached by bending the fingers 34 thereof. v

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the specific embodiment herein chosen for illustration, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: a

1. In a watch, the combination with the case-shell formed with an integral inwardlyturned crystal-retaining flange; of a crystal seated against the said flange; a movement installed in the said case-shell; a dial-plate 0 also installed in the said shell; means carried by the said movement independently of the case-shell for supporting the said dial-plate in spaced relation with respect to the said movement; and a ring secured to the said movement within the said case-shell, engaging the upper surface of the said dial-plate for retaining thesame in place, and formed with an inturned crystal-retaining flange complementing the crystaLretaining flange of the said case-shell for holding the said crystal in place thereagainst.

2. In a watch, the combination with the case-shell open at its front and rear faces and having an inwardly-overhanging crystal-retaining flange at its front face; of a crystal seated against the said crystal-retaining flange; a movement installed in the said caseshell; pillars for the said movement formed with forwardly-projecting integral studs; a

dial-plate resting upon the said studs; a retaining-ring secured to the said movement and engaging the edge of the said dial-plate to hold the same upon the said studs and terminating in an' inwardly-turned crystal-re- L taining flange complementing the crystal-re- ;taining flange of the said case-shell to form a two-part crystal-retaining groove for hold- Lind the said crystal in place.

in testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ARTHUR L. MANSFIELD. 

